City Picks Up Tab for Heinz Field Paint Job

The Pittsburgh Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority board members agreed on Thursday (March 9) to reimburse the Pittsburgh Steelers $276,860 for structural steel painting and related inspection services at the team's home field.

The job is the last of a four-phase project to repaint Heinz Field’s structural steel, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported. This money comes from a $3.3 million capital reserve account that is funded by an extra $4 in ticket surcharges.

The repainting work is the last of a four-phase project to repaint Heinz Field’s structural steel. This money comes from a $3.3 million capital reserve account that is funded by an extra $4 in ticket surcharges.

Structural and cosmetic improvements to the stadium has been a point of contention between the SEA and the Steelers, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates and their PNC Park ballfield.

Morgan Hanson, the authority’s solicitor, said there is a clause in the stadium lease that requires the SEA to come up with another funding source to pay for mandated improvements if there is not sufficient money in the capital reserve account.

The Heinz Field structure is home to 12,000 tons of steel and has initially used 30,000 gallons of paint, according to the facility’s website. There is currently no timeline for the project.

An empty coal car weighs about 2,800 tons and almost 19,000 tons when loaded. I've been to a few games at Heinz Field, and my hat is off to those folks if they got that structure out of 12,000 tons of steel.